Topics - halftheloop

Since I'm taking the December LSAT, does it make a difference when I send in my completed application? For instance, if I were to send in my application fee/forms today vs. the end of November, would that make the ad committee look at my application earlier or do they look at all of them at once, upon having received the actual LSAT report?

A recent study concludes that prehistoric birds, unlike modern birds, were cold-blooded. This challenges a widely held view that modern birds descended from warm-blooded birds. The conclusion is based on the existence of growth rings in prehistoric birds' bodily structures, which are thought to be found only in cold blooded animals. Another study, however, disputes this view. It concludes taht prehistoric birds had dense blood vessels in their bones, which suggests that tehy were active creatures and therefore had to be warm-blooded.

Question stem: which one of the following, if true, would most help to resolve the dispute described above in favor of one party to it?

I couldn't decide between the two following answers, the second of which is the CORRECT answer:D) Dense blood vessels are not found in all warm-blooded speciesE) In some cold blooded species the gene that is responsible for growth rings is also responsible for dense blood vessels

If you know it, please explain why E is the correct answer, and why D doesn't help resolve the dispute by providing evidence AGAINST the study (in the last sentence) that `concluded the prehistoric birds had to be warm blooded.

i haven't even started looking at the apps... but i have a friend who is willing to help me out with making sure at least ONE of my applications is perfecto- so i obviously want to take advantage of her help and choose the most demanding/thorough application? anyone know off hand which T14 requires the most essays/attachments/etc.

everyone always talks about how you have to detach yourself from the world as we know it and instead enter the "LSAT World of Logic" when we take this test. other than the obvious preparation of learning formal logic/flawed methods of reasoning etc. BEFORE taking the test, any tips on how to totally conquer this mindset actively and successfully WHILE taking the test? for instance, should i approach the stimuli with less focus on the content of what they're saying and try to break it down structurally instead in terms of premise-subsidiary-conclusion?

does this make for a potentially compelling PS topic, or perhaps just a huge turn off to the ad committee? :

VERY LONG story short, my family basically went from riches to rags because my dad was caught for white collar crimes that made him go bankrupt essentially and drained us of everything. needless to say, it has had a huge impact on every corner of my life. is this something that is risky to discuss in a PS - while it's not violence or anything, i dont' want them to think it runs in the family nor that i'm just some formerly-rich-kid complaining about not having money... i just want them to know my experience with seeing the flipside of the law and how much it has affected me blah blah blah.